THE WHOLE WORLD IS WATCHING…
September 4th, 2005[Update -- 1446, 4 September 05 -- From Europe: There was a striking dicrepancy between the CNN International report on the Bush visit to the New Orleans disaster zone, yesterday, and reports of the same event by German TV.
ZDF News reported that the president's visit was a completely staged event. Their crew witnessed how the open air food distribution point Bush visited in front of the cameras was torn down immediately after the president and the herd of 'news people' had left and that others which were allegedly being set up were abandoned at the same time.
The people in the area were once again left to fend for themselves, said ZDF.]
If I get any more cynical, I’m going to puke. Senator Mary Landieu (D-Louisanna) is livid. She saw first hand the result of the 2004 tsunami and knows how bad it can get. She met with President George Bush on Friday and toured the breached 17th Street levee. She wants the president to know that the citizens of the United States expect leadership; photo ops just don’t cut it. Via KTAL TV:
But perhaps the greatest disappointment stands at the breached 17th Street levee. Touring this critical site yesterday with the President, I saw what I believed to be a real and significant effort to get a handle on a major cause of this catastrophe.
Flying over this critical spot again this morning, less than 24 hours later, it became apparent that yesterday we witnessed a hastily prepared stage set for a Presidential photo opportunity; and the desperately needed resources we saw were this morning reduced to a single, lonely piece of equipment.
The good and decent people of southeast Louisiana and the Gulf Coast – black and white, rich and poor, young and old – deserve far better from their national government.
Shalom Jeff,
Yes, the world is watching. Two of my friends, who are Irish living in London, asked me how America dares to tell the world what to do when we treat our own people this way. My American friend living In London told me he is embarrassed to be American. I could only agree with them right now.
Cailin
Jeff,
I don’t know about your kudos to Landieu. Have you seen the video on Crooks and Liars that Ryan mentions in his comment to your Raaagggeee post? She is using her time on camera to thank every politician she can think of for doing such great things, while Anderson Cooper is blasting her about dead Americans being eaten by rats. She turned my stomach with her phoniness.
Cailin
Shalom Cailin,
That’s true. You’re absolutely right.
I’m not interested in giving kudos to Landrieu, however. I don’t think there’s a clean politician in the bunch, right now.
What I am interested in making sure that people understand is that President George Bush:
First, knows that after four years of spin about how he has made America safer by creating the Department of Homeland Security which has primary responsibility for all national disasters, whether from an act of terrorism or nature, has failed miserably in every aspect.
Second, is attempting to create feel-good photo ops while continuing to fail miserably in every aspect. And,
Third, is running scared, despite the flood of trolls with their talking-point assignments.
B’shalom,
Jeff
Shalom Cailin,
As to your friends in Ireland and London. It is very important that they make their voices heard through blogs and other means of conversation. Americans here need to hear what they’re not getting through regular sources.
B’shalom,
Jeff
The first to critize the bush admin where the first to fail Louisiana and their unique and precious people. The ugliness from the three state officials (mayor, govenor and senetor)plus beloved Pelosi is the most disgusting act of ‘using katrina as a stump. Disgusting, vicious and spineless.
Shalom Mary,
Thanks for stopping in. For reading. And for sharing your talking points.
B’shalom,
Jeff
[...] y, No. I’m not going to do that. It wouldn’t be right? I thought the photo ops on the levee and with the fire fighters were bad enough. But last night President Bush outdid hi [...]